Twelve-month evaluation of the atraumatic restorative treatment approach for class III restorations: An interventional study

BACKGROUND: Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) may be appropriate for populations without accessibility and affordability. More data are required regarding the success rate of ART in anterior teeth. AIM: To evaluate the clinical performance of restoring class III cavities in anterior teeth of permanent dentition using the ART approach. METHODS: A longitudinal interventional field study was carried out at two rural primary health centers, Tumkur district, India. A total of 54 teeth in 39 patients were evaluated for the survival rate of class III restorations in permanent anterior teeth using the ART approach in children and adult populations. Evaluation of ART restoration was carried out using Frencken J criteria, the mean procedure time, patient acceptance and reported pain severity during the ART approach were evaluated using a visual analog scale. Calculation of the cost of ART was also performed. RESULTS: The mean time taken to perform the ART procedure was 14.79 ± 5.8 min with the majority of patients reporting only mild pain. At 6 mo follow-up, 72.2% remained in a good state, but this reduced to 27% at 12 mo. The cumulative survival rate of the restorations was 94.4% at 6 mo and 80.9% at 12 mo follow-up. Estimation of the direct cost for a single class III restoration was 186.50 INR (2.64 USD). CONCLUSION: ART may be a good comprehensive option for basic oral health care for underserved or inaccessible populations, and preventive care for patients.